Participating Organization(s)	National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Components of Participating Organizations	National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Funding Opportunity Title	Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) and Coordinating Center (P30)
Activity Code	P30 Center Core Grants
Announcement Type	Reissue of RFA-AG-07-005
Related Notices	April 5, 2017 - This RFA has been reissued as RFA-AG-18-003.
Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number	RFA-AG-12-012
Companion FOA	None
Number of Applications	Only one application per institution is allowed, as defined in Section III, 3. Additional Information on Eligibility. Section III. 3. Additional Information on Eligibility.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s)	93.866
FOA Purpose	This FOA invites applications from qualified institutions to create or continue Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR) and a RCMAR Coordinating Center. The RCMAR Program’s mission is to address the national priority of reducing health disparities with special emphasis on health disparities in an aging population. The RCMARs will organize themselves so as to create an infrastructure that will: (1) increase the number of researchers focusing upon the health and well-being of minority elders and (2) enhance diversity in the professional workforce by mentoring diverse academic researchers for sustained careers in minority elder health-related research.

Posted Date	August 24, 2011
Letter of Intent Due Date	October 9, 2011
Application Due Date(s)	November 9, 2011
AIDS Application Due Date(s)	Not Applicable
Scientific Merit Review	March, 2012
Advisory Council Review	May, 2012
Earliest Start Date(s)	July 1, 2012
Expiration Date	November 10, 2011
Due Dates for E.O. 12372	Not Applicable

Required Application Instructions

It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the PHS398 Application Guide except where instructed to do otherwise (in this FOA or in a Notice from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts). Conformance to all requirements (both in the Application Guide and the FOA) is required and strictly enforced. While some links are provided, applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV. When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions. Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

Part 1. Overview Information
Part 2. Full Text of Announcement
Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
Section II. Award Information
Section III. Eligibility Information
Section IV. Application and Submission Information
Section V. Application Review Information
Section VI. Award Administration Information
Section VII. Agency Contacts
Section VIII. Other Information

Research Objectives

Purpose

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) invites applications from qualified institutions for the creation or continuation of Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research (RCMARs). The RCMAR mission is to build infrastructure to improve the health and well-being of older diverse populations by reducing health disparities. RCMARs focus research upon social and behavioral mechanisms to improve health and physical and cognitive function. They emphasize culturally-informed disease and disability prevention and interventions resulting in optimal health outcomes for older populations. Basic or clinical research areas will be considered if they are relevant to the RCMAR mission. These emphases are congruent with NIA's Health Disparities Strategic Plan (National Institute on Aging, 2009-2013, http://www.nia.nih.gov/AboutNIA/HealthDisparities)

To meet these long-range goals, RCMARs will create research infrastructure by: (1) establishing a mechanism for mentoring sustained research careers focused on the health of minority elders; and (2) enhancing diversity of the professional workforce conducting research on the health of older persons. Secondary goals are: (1) conducting research on recruiting and retaining older minority group members in social, behavioral, economic, epidemiologic, genetic, clinical, and/or demographic research; (2) advancing scientific knowledge to reduce health disparities; and (3) disseminating research results to scientific and non-scientific communities for improving minority health. Health disparities are generally well documented requiring little further elaboration. RCMAR funding is intended to create an infrastructure to improve minority aging health through research.

Applicants are encouraged to design a research and mentoring program focusing upon a site’s scientific strengths. The focus may be defined broadly but should constitute the organizing idea for the applicant Center and should be apparent in the application. Applicants are encouraged to characterize their proposed Center’s focus using multiple levels of analyses, multiple disciplines, and an interdisciplinary approach. Problems related to minority health originate in multiple systems. Therefore, interaction among social, behavioral, economic, psychophysiological, genetic and clinical sciences is both anticipated and encouraged in addressing a site-specific research problem focus.

The RCMAR program is intended as a research-based and mentoring investment in infrastructure to close the health disparities gap between minority and non-minority elderly populations. One RCMAR objective is increasing minority researchers in the professional scientific workforce to conduct independent social and behavioral research on the health of older populations. Mentoring of diverse researchers to meet this objective is a pressing need. RCMARs are intended to enhance the capacity of minority and non-minority social, behavioral, and clinical scientists to conduct research among and within diverse populations. As with all research, mentoring in methodological and measurement issues is essential.

In addition to mentoring, another infrastructure need is the recruitment and maintenance of older minority populations as research participants in social, behavioral, and biomedical research. Knowledge of recruitment and retention techniques in these populations is imperative. Therefore, through involvement with participant communities, the development of scientifically verifiable techniques for minority participant recruitment and retention is one of the secondary objectives in this FOA.

Applicant institutions should demonstrate a history of minority aging research in the behavioral and social sciences addressing health disparities relevant to the particular Center’s focus. Further, the application should document a continuing commitment to mentoring scientists from diverse backgrounds.

Each selected RCMAR will be required to work with a Coordinating Center (CC) to agree on common reporting standards which may include a program wide, semi-annual Program Emphasis and Outcomes Report. Each site will also be required to budget for and send a minimum of three participants (one of whom is the PD/PI) to an Annual Investigators Meeting to be held at a RCMAR site that is mutually agreeable to RCMAR PD/PIs and NIA program staff. Finally, all funded RCMARs will implement, in conjunction with the CC, a reporting and tracking system for any pilot investigators funded by the specific Center.

The RCMAR solicitation is intended to meet its objectives by embracing the following general requirements:

• concentrate mentoring and research in the behavioral, social, and/or clinical sciences using multiple disciplines and multiple levels of analyses on a defined research focus or domain;
• foster mentoring relationships between experienced researchers and junior colleagues, or those recruited from other areas, to examine minority health in older populations;
• increase the presence of diverse scientists conducting research on aging;
• support and mentor pilot research projects addressing a site s research focus that are designed to: (a) improve the health of diverse populations, (b) lead to intervention strategies, (c) address unique health problems of specific older minority/ethnic groups, and (d) result in subsequent independent investigator awards for health related research on behavioral and social factors in older diverse populations; and
• support mentoring relationships that will establish enduring research careers in minority aging and/or enduring careers of minority researchers conducting aging research.

Research Domains of Interest

RCMAR applicants are encouraged to focus on one or more specific scientific domains. These areas must be relevant to the RCMAR mission of creating an infrastructure that facilitates research to reduce health disparities. In pursuit of a Center’s focus, applicants are strongly encouraged to collaborate with at least one other NIA research center (i.e., Roybal Centers, Demography and Economics of Aging Centers, Older Americans Independence Centers, Alzheimer’s Disease Centers, or the National Archive of Computerized Data on Aging) and/or established Clinical and Translation Science Institutions (CTSAs), if appropriate. The application should demonstrate how the collaboration would mutually benefit the scientific goals of collaborating centers.

The RCMARs will demonstrate their scientific focus or research domain by internally funding Pilot Studies, typically to young investigators called RCMAR Scholars. Greater detail on this mechanism is found below in the FOA section, Organization. What follows are Research Areas of Interest. (See: also http://www.nia.nih.gov/ResearchInformation/ExtramuralPrograms/BehavioralAndSocialResearch .

Although not limited to the topics listed below, NIA is particularly interested in Center applications with a research focus in the following areas.

• Research integrating psychology, economics, and neuroscience to study decision making, social behavior, resilience, well-being, and self-regulatory function in minority populations
• Life course perspective research on the impact of socioeconomic status, behavioral risk factors, and discrimination (both objective and perceived), upon health disparities
• Life course biopsychosocial survey research integrating behavioral, social, and biological factors to understand health disparities, with particular focus on NIA funded behavioral and social science surveys (A full list of NIA-sponsored datasets in the social and behavioral sciences can be found at: http://www.nia.nih.gov/ResearchInformation/ExtramuralPrograms/BehavioralAndSocialResearch/DataResources.htm)
• Interventions at all levels of analysis, individual, community, or society designed to impact social and behavioral factors leading to a reduction of health disparities
• Research on the Science of Behavior Change, with a focus on unique challenges in minority communities or disadvantaged groups and with an emphasis on interventions (See http://commonfund.nih.gov/behaviorchange/meetings/sobc061509.)
• Research clarifying whether race, culture, ethnicity, gender and socioeconomic class are associated with fundamental behavioral and social processes or socioemotional influences on decision making, motivation, social engagement’s impact upon cognition, and the effects of stereotypes
• Research on the economics of aging, including retirement and health economic challenges in minority populations
• Research designed to eliminate health differences between diverse groups based upon contributions of and interactions between provider behavior, institutional characteristics, the consequences of stereotyping, availability and quality of services, and patient adherence to care recommendations
• Research examining differences in the role of family and friendship networks upon health and well-being, particularly upon differences in caregiving efficacy and outcomes and the differential role of family as a buffer against institutionalization
• Research examining how genetic factors contribute to risk for and resiliency against health disparities and disease through direct effects and through gene-environment interplay
• Interventions to test factors affecting respondents willingness to participate in interventions and surveys, especially with increased use of biological and genetic data

Organization

Each RCMAR should be organized around a series of Core activities related to the infrastructure-building goal. A minimum of three Cores are required: both an Administrative Core and an Investigator Development Core are required. Either a Community Liaison Core and/or an Analysis Core are to be included. The choice of the Community Liaison Core or the Analysis Core is at the option of the applicant institution. Both may be included at the applicant institution’s discretion. In addition, each applicant is invited to submit as part of the application a Coordinating Center as an additional Core. However, only one Coordinating Center will be selected for the RCMAR program. Core activities are detailed below. The application should provide a plan for the integration of activities across the site’s Cores. The specific organization of the RCMAR and the interaction among Cores should be described and justified in the application. The application should present a separate budget for each Core and a description of each Core’s role in RCMAR activities. Key investigators identified in each Core should be recognized experts in that Core’s content area.

Special Requirements: Administrative Core (Required Core)

RCMARs should have strong and experienced central leadership with an Administrative Core (AC) directed by the PD/PI. This Core will coordinate proposed activities and maintain internal information flow. The AC is responsible for the RCMAR’s Program Emphases and Outcomes Report contribution. This semi-annual Report, which together with the Coordinating Center (CC), may yield a mechanism for synthesizing research findings, mentoring activities, and progress toward meeting RCMAR specific goals. The Report may be disseminated to scientific, host community, and policy audiences, as well as within NIA/NIH. Critical elements of the Administrative Core follow.

• The PD/PI should be experienced in conducting research with diverse older populations and in successfully mentoring diverse investigators.
• The application should specify how the AC will create mechanisms and procedures for ensuring interaction between the site’s Cores. The objectives of that interaction must be specified.
• The application’s AC should specify mechanisms for ensuring that RCMAR researchers and pilot investigators interact with colleagues at the parent and affiliated institutions. Proposed interaction between the RCMAR and other NIA Center programs should be specified in the AC presentation. These mechanisms are needed to ensure: (1) the practicability of developing connections with diverse communities, (2) recruitment and retention of both diverse investigators and study participants, and (3) the viability of mentoring and training relationships among affiliated institutions.
• The AC should specify its oversight role in selecting pilot studies for funding. The AC should ensure that the Center’s research focus is maintained. Additionally, the AC, or the Investigator Development Core (see below) should create and maintain a system for tracking its pilot study investigators through award of independent research funding.
• For awarded RCMARs, the AC will submit their recommendations for the forthcoming year’s pilot studies to the Project Officer with the non-competing continuation (Type 5) application.
• The AC will select a minimum of two RCMAR participants who, with the PD/PI, will attend an Annual Investigator’s Meeting typically lasting a day and a half. The meeting, organized by the Coordinating Center with input from each AC and NIA program staff, will discuss scientific advances, progress, and problems common in the operation of the Centers. Travel to these meetings should be budgeted as part of the AC.
• The AC should be responsible for coordinating and maintaining an external Community-based Advisory Group. This group, meeting at least once per year, should serve to advise the RCMAR on community needs and the relevance of the program to diverse and targeted communities.

Special Requirements: Investigator Development Core (Required Core)

The goal of the Investigator Development Core (IDC) is to provide a mentoring mechanism leading to enduring careers in diversity aging research. Mentoring relationships may include early-career researchers and/or mid-career scientists newly transitioning into research on minority aging. It is the responsibility of the IDC to assure successful mentoring of, and collaboration with, diverse researchers. The application should contain a mentoring plan to enhance diversity in the professional research workforce dealing with the health of the elderly. This plan should have two components: Pilot Studies for RCMAR Scholars and a Continuing Mentoring Activity.

Investigator Development Core: Pilot Studies (Required Core Activity)

Each application must propose a minimum of three pilot studies, with named investigators, for the first year and should anticipate funding a minimum of three pilot studies during each subsequent year. Support for each pilot study is expected to last a minimum of one year. These pilot studies are intended to be the focus of the RCMAR’s mentoring activity. The outcome of each pilot should be professionally published research and/or the collection and analysis of data preliminary to preparing an NIA application for funding.

The IDC portion of the RCMAR application should include an Abstract of each of the three selected pilot studies proposed for the first year of funding. Additional pages containing the standard PHS Biographical Sketch for the RCMAR Scholars should be included with the remainder of the IDC Biographical Sketches. The budget for each pilot should be included in the budget pages of the IDC.

The IDC portion of the RCMAR application should include: (1) a plan for recruiting RCMAR Scholars in the grant’s out-years; (2) selection criteria for the submitted pilot studies; (3) a plan for reviewing subsequent pilot applications; (4) a plan for continued evaluation of pilot study progress toward eventual funding; and (5) evidence of an adequate pool of high quality early stage or transitioning investigators to fill the three pilot study positions each year. Funding for each pilot study should be budgeted by the IDC. In years 02 through 05, each RCMAR will be responsible for: (1) selecting and funding a minimum of three new pilot investigators in each year unless a different strategy is warranted and justified (note that the Project Officer must approve all new pilot projects at the time that the Type 5 non-competing continuation application is submitted); (2) demonstrating that prior years pilot studies lead to success in obtaining independent investigator awards (see "Continuing Mentoring Activity," below); and (3) tracking the successes of its pilot investigators through the award of an independent grant.

Investigator Development Core: Continuing Mentoring Activity (Required Core Activity)

Each RCMAR should specify strategies for mentoring RCMAR Scholars to the point of receiving independent investigator research awards. It is strongly urged that these submissions address the NIA Division of Behavioral and Social Research (BSR) areas of interest listed above. Topics chosen by RCMAR Scholars should be germane to these areas. The application should specify how continuing mentoring of RCMAR Scholars to the point of an independent research award is to be accomplished. Each RCMAR, in conjunction with the Coordinating Center, will participate in a semi-annual reporting procedure to track the success of its pilot investigators.

Special Requirements: Community Liaison Core (This Core and/or an Analysis Core is required.)

The Community Liaison Core (CLC) serves several functions: (1) increasing the scientific knowledge of techniques for recruiting and retaining minority research participants; (2) working with the host community in providing research participants for research projects funded by the Center; and (3) providing feedback to the host community on research advances impacting its members. This research translation function is essential to successful community-based research. The CLC is not intended as a service function for RCMAR targeted study communities. It is a science-generating Core.

Growing evidence indicates that intensive effort, specialized skill, and creativity are needed to recruit and retain older minority research participants. To these ends, the CLC will create and maintain relationships with diverse community-based organizations to develop subject pools for RCMAR research involvement. This objective can be met in tandem with other NIA Centers, at the discretion of both the RCMAR and the other Centers.

The CLC should create and disseminate scientific information regarding techniques for recruiting and retaining minority research participants. A plan for enhancing or disseminating such knowledge should be included in the application, if a CLC is included. The plan may include publications and presentations of information, conferences and symposia, and outreach activities to other institutions and Centers conducting social, behavioral, and/or clinical research on aging. Applications should specify how its CLC will work with the IDC and with cooperating research centers (e.g., Demography and Economics of Aging Centers).

Providing feedback and translating research to the host community are obligations for RCMARs that propose a CLC. The application should include recognition of this necessity and specify mechanisms for researcher/community interaction based upon knowledge learned from research conducted in the community. The external community-based advisory group may be one mechanism for assuring such interaction.

Special Requirements: Analysis Core (This Core and/or a Community Liaison Core is required.)

The Analysis Core (AnC) is created so as to expand the range of applicants to include those sites that might not have a community orientation as their organizing focus. The AnC may have one or both Core functions: (1) identifying, cataloging, distributing and/or creating culturally informed and scientifically valid epidemiological, behavioral, or social measurement tools and/or (2) the analysis of secondary data, such as economic or genetic data that will lead to interventions addressing health disparities issues. Regardless of the creation of an Analysis Core, methodological and statistical mentoring is expected for all RCMAR Scholars. Including an AnC in the application requires a commitment beyond this minimal mentoring activity. AnC participants should have expertise in research methodology and measurement especially related to the specific group upon which the RCMAR concentrates its efforts, or unique expertise on the use of secondary data addressing the issue of health disparities.

Centers including an AnC may take one or both approaches to the formation of this Core. (1) They should develop, test, and disseminate strategies for enhancing culturally informed practices for collecting behavioral, social, and clinical data. It is the responsibility of the AnC, in conjunction with the Coordinating Center (see below), to create, identify, catalogue, and disseminate information in its domain. Applications including an AnC should specify plans for these activities. (2) The Center should develop new lines of investigation using existing or secondary data to mentor RCMAR Scholars in areas of investigation related to health disparities among the elderly. Areas such as economics, biodemography, or genetics are likely foci for the use of secondary analysis in mentoring RCMAR Scholars in addressing health disparities.

Special Requirements: Coordinating Center (Optional Core)

One Coordinating Center (CC) will be established to facilitate and coordinate trans-RCMAR activities. The CC will work closely with the NIA Project Officer and, in coordination with all RCMAR sites, be responsive to requests generated by key RCMAR site personnel, NIA, NIH, the scientific community, and the general public.

Each applicant RCMAR is invited to submit as part of its response to the RCMAR FOA, a section proposing a CC as an additional Core. The first year budget for the CC should not exceed $200,000 (direct costs). Selection of the CC will be made by the NIA Director based upon recommendations of the Initial Review Group and the Project Officer. The CC will fulfill the following functions.

Coordinating Center: Logistic Support

The CC will provide logistic support to the RCMARs and the NIA Project Officer. It will make arrangements for a yearly RCMAR meeting and in coordination with RCMAR PD/PIs and NIA program staff, create the agenda for and chair that meeting. The CC will set aside a portion of its funds to support the Annual Investigators meeting. The CC will also collect information from the RCMARs and prepare Program Emphases and Outcomes Reports on an agreed schedule. This report will be cumulative and highlight significant program developments, individually and collectively, as that information relates to the RCMAR mission. Additionally the CC will foster communication and cooperative arrangements between RCMARs and other NIA research Centers. The CC will arrange for and host monthly PD/PI conference calls and arrange for similar calls for the various Cores, as needed.

The CC will create a mechanism for maintaining active involvement for all sites in all aspects of the program. Such involvement should include: (1) linking and fostering joint research between various RCMAR sites, based upon available funds; (2) answering queries from the scientific and lay communities about the program; (3) linking other NIA supported research activities and Centers to the unique expertise of the RCMARs; (4) serving a "translation" role for science, policy makers, and public audiences; (5) actively demonstrating to a broad and diverse audience the RCMARs impact upon the health of minority elders in the United States; and (6) coordinating and facilitating communication and activity among the Centers.

The CC will maintain an active RCMAR website with links to each RCMAR site and the NIA. The website will serve as the source of information dissemination to scientific and lay audiences and will be accessible and readily identifiable. (See http://www.rcmar.ucla.edu.)

Coordinating Center: Data Collection and Dissemination Support

The CC will be proactive in establishing a mechanism for informing and making visible scientific advances of RCMAR affiliated scientists to the research community, policy-makers, and others interested in minority health. This function should also involve keeping all RCMAR Centers appraised of each participating Centers scientific advances. Efforts in this regard should involve other NIA funded Centers and major research projects as well as the broader research community, such as at the Gerontological Society of America meetings. In addition, the creation of and ready availability of an Item Bank, in conjunction with the Analysis Cores, are encouraged. Should the RCMAR sites choose to participate in a joint data collection effort, the CC will manage this effort.

Funding Instrument	Grant
Application Types Allowed	New Renewal The OER Glossary and the PHS398 Application Guide provide details on these application types.
Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards	NIA, Division of Behavioral and Social Research intends to commit $4,000,000 FY 2012 for 5-7 awards and a Coordinating Center.
Award Budget	Application budgets are limited to $400,000 direct costs (exclusive of the cost of a Coordinating Center), but need to reflect actual needs of the proposed project.
Award Project Period	The project period is for five years.

NIH grants policies as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement will apply to the applications submitted and awards made in response to this FOA.

Higher Education Institutions

• Public/State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education
• Private Institutions of Higher Education

The following types of Higher Education Institutions are always encouraged to apply for NIH support as Public or Private Institutions of Higher Education:

• Hispanic-serving Institutions
• Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
• Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
• Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions

Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education

• Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education)
• Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education)

For-Profit Organizations

• Small Businesses
• For-Profit Organizations (Other than Small Businesses)

Governments

• State Governments
• County Governments
• City or Township Governments
• Special District Governments
• Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
• Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized)
• U.S. Territory or Possession

Other

• ndependent School Districts
• Public Housing Authorities/Indian Housing Authorities
• Native American Tribal Organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
• Faith-based or Community-based Organizations
• Regional Organizations

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply.
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.
Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.

Applicant organizations must complete the following registrations as described in the PHS398 Application Guide to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. Applicants must have a valid Dun and Bradstreet Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number in order to begin each of the following registrations.

• Central Contractor Registration (CCR) must maintain an active registration, to be renewed at least annually
• eRA Commons

All Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD/PIs) must also work with their institutional officials to register with the eRA Commons or ensure their existing eRA Commons account is affiliated with the eRA Commons account of the applicant organization.

All registrations must be completed by the application due date. Applicant organizations are strongly encouraged to start the registration process at least four (4) weeks prior to the application due date.

Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) is invited to work with his/her organization to develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NIH support.

This FOA does not require cost sharing as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Only one application per institution is allowed.

NIH will not accept any application in response to this FOA that is essentially the same as one currently pending initial peer review unless the applicant withdraws the pending application. NIH will not accept any application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed.

Applicants are required to prepare applications according to the current PHS 398 application forms in accordance with the PHS 398 Application Guide.

It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the PHS398 Application Guide, except where instructed in this funding opportunity announcement to do otherwise. Conformance to the requirements in the Application Guide is required and strictly enforced. Applications that are out of compliance with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of a subsequent application, the information that it contains allows IC staff to estimate the potential review workload and plan the review.

By the date listed in Part 1. Overview Information, prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes the following information:

• Descriptive title of proposed research
• Name, address, and telephone number of the PD/PI
• Names of other key personnel
• Participating institutions
• Number and title of this funding opportunity

The letter of intent should be sent to:

Dr. Sidney M. Stahl
Division of Behavioral and Social Research
7201 Wisconsin Ave., #533
Bethesda, MD 20892-9205
Telephone: 301-402-4156
Email: StahlS@mail.nih.gov

Applications must be prepared using the PHS 398 research grant application forms and instructions for preparing a research grant application. Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the checklist, and three signed photocopies in one package to:

Center for Scientific Review
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 1040, MSC 7710
Bethesda, MD 20892-7710 (U.S. Postal Service Express or regular mail)
Bethesda, MD 20817 (for express/courier service; non-USPS service)

At the time of submission, two additional paper copies of the application and all copies of the appendix files must be sent to:

Dr. Ramesh Vemuri
Scientific Review Branch
7201 Wisconsin Ave., #212
Bethesda, MD 20892-9205
Telephone: 301-402-7700
Email: vemuri@nia.nih.gov

All page limitations described in the PHS398 Application Guide and the Table of Page Limits must be followed, with the following requirements:

• The Research Strategy Section of the Overall Center Objectives is limited to 6 pages.
• The Research Strategy Section of proposed Cores is limited to 12 pages.

All instructions in the PHS398 Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions:

How to Organize the Application:

Section 1: Information for the Entire Application

Form Page 1 - Face Page: Include the number and title of this FOA in item/line 2 of the PHS 398 face page

Table of Contents: Modify PHS Form Page 3 to enable reviewers to find each component of the application easily. Number all pages consecutively. Because the first page of the application is the Title Page begin the next page with the numeral "2". Do not use lettered numbers (e.g., "2A", "2B" etc.) Use these referent numbers in the Table of Contents.

Form Pages 4 and 5 Detailed Budget for Initial Budget Period; Budget for Entire Proposed Period of Support: Prepare a detailed composite budget (across all cores) for all requested support categories for the first year using Form Page 4 and a summary budget for the entire proposed period of support using Form Page 5 of the PHS 398 application. If applicable, provide additional budget pages for consortium/contractual arrangements

Biographical Sketches

When an investigator has a role in more than one part of the application then a complete biosketch should be placed in each section where the individual has a role. As the particular qualifications for roles may differ between cores, the selected publications and the description of qualifications for the individual may differ in the several biosketches listed.

Resources

Reviewers will use information from the Resources page to evaluate the quality of the scientific environment for the research proposed. Applicants should complete separate Resources pages for all cores. Reviewers will use information from the Resources page of the Administrative Core to evaluate the quality of the overall environment for the project.

Section 2: Overall Program Objectives:

Specific Aims: (limited to one page): Describe the aims of the overall project and outline how the different cores will contribute to these aims.

Overall Research Strategy: limited to 6 pages.

Items 1, 2 and 3, 4 below are to be included in the six page limit.

1. Significance: Focusing on the project as a whole address (i) the importance of the problem or critical barrier to progress in the field that the proposed project addresses, (ii) how the proposed project will improve scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or clinical practice in one or more broad fields, (iii) how the concepts methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventive interventions that drive this field will be changed if the proposed aims are achieved. (One to two pages recommended).

New Applications: Follow the instructions above.

Renewals: Identify and justify any changes in research emphasis and level of funds requested. If the structure of cores has changed identify the cores consecutively (letters for cores) according to how they are arranged in the current application. Show the correspondence to the prior structure.

2. Innovation: Considering the project as a whole, show how the proposed research seeks to shift current research or clinical practice paradigms through use of novel concepts, approaches, methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions. Are these concepts, approaches, methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions novel to the research field or novel in a broad sense? Does the proposed work refine, or improve, or apply in a new way, the concepts, approaches, methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions proposed? (One page recommended).

3. Approach: Include the major approaches and studies involved in the application showing how the approaches of cores complement each other or are inter-dependent. Describe the mechanisms that will ensure the coherence of the project and maintain a multidisciplinary focus. (Three to four pages recommended.)

4. Renewals: Describe findings (with citations) from the prior period of support that are of particular significance to the project as a whole. If cores included in the prior period of support are not part of the current submission describe their progress and explain why they are not included. Identify and justify any substantive differences in approaches from the prior period of support.

Human Subjects

Describe the general principles, policies, and procedures that will apply to human subjects.

See PHS Form 398 PHS Form 398 instructions.

Women, Minorities and Children

Describe the proposed composition of the human subjects and the proactive plan to recruit women, minorities, and children (if appropriate). For most NIA applications involving human participants, a justifiable exclusion for children is that the topic is not relevant to children. See PHS Form 398 instructions.

Section 3: Research Strategies for Individual Cores

How to organize the Layout of the Cores

Present information for each component core according to the Table of Contents

List the cores, identifying multiple cores by consecutive letters (Core A, Core B, etc.). Begin each core with a new PHS398 continuation page. Do not use the Face Page of the PHS Form 398.

For renewals list the cores as for a new center application. In addition in the Statement of Overall Program Objectives show the correspondence between the structure of the renewal application and the prior application.

How to Organize Cores:

Follow instructions in the PHS 398 form with the following exceptions:

Specific Aims: (1 page)

Identify the contribution of the core to the overall project.

Research Strategy (12 pages)

Organize the Research Strategy into sections on: a. Significance; and b. Approach

For the Investigator Development Core, detailed Abstracts, Biographical Sketches, and Budgets for a minimum of three pilot studies should be included in this Core. (See Text, above.)

Resource Sharing Plan

Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans (Data Sharing Plan, Sharing Model Organisms, and Genome Wide Association Studies; GWAS) as provided in the PHS398 Application Guide with the following modification:

• Generally, Resource Sharing Plans (Data Sharing Plan, Sharing Model Organisms, and GWAS Sharing Plan) are expected, but they are not applicable for this FOA.

Appendix

Do not use the appendix to circumvent page limits. Follow all instructions for the Appendix (please note all format requirements) as described in the PHS398 Application Guide.

Part I. Overview Information contains information about Key Dates.

Information on the process of receipt and determining if your application is considered on-time is described in detail in the PHS398 Application Guide.

Applicants may track the status of the application in the eRA Commons, NIH’s electronic system for grants administration.

This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review.

All NIH awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Pre-award costs are allowable only as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Applications must be received on or before the due date in Part I. Overview Information. If an application is received after that date, it will not be reviewed.

Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for completeness by the Center for Scientific Review and responsiveness by components of participating organizations, NIH. Applications that are incomplete and/or nonresponsive will not be reviewed.

Submission Requirements Unique to the RCMARs

• Applicants should budget to send a minimum of two investigators and the PD/PI to an Annual Investigators' meeting typically held at one of the sites.
• Applicants should agree to track all RCMAR Scholars at a minimum until the time of their first independent research award.
• Applicants should agree to work with the Coordinating Center on shared tasks of reporting and presentation.
• Applicants submitting Renewal (Competing Continuation) applications mush include a Progress Report as part of the application. The Progress Report should present evidence of accomplishment in each of the Core areas for the prior funding period..

Applicants are required to follow the instructions for post-submission materials, as described in NOT-OD-10-115,

Only the review criteria described below will be considered in the review process. As part of the NIH mission, all applications submitted to the NIH in support of biomedical and behavioral research are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through the NIH peer review system.

Reviewers will provide an overall impact/priority score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood for the project to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the research field(s) involved, in consideration of the following review criteria and additional review criteria (as applicable for the project proposed).

Reviewers will consider each of the review criteria below in the determination of scientific merit, and give a separate score for each. An application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact. For example, a project that by its nature is not innovative may be essential to advance a field.

Significance

Does the Center address an important problem or a critical barrier to progress in the field? If the aims of the Center are achieved, how will scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or clinical practice be improved? How will successful completion of the aims change the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field?

• To what extent will the Center’s activities have a general and enduring effect on the quality of research conducted to improve the health of older members of diverse populations?
• How much will the Center’s research positively affect health disparities in the United States?
• Is the proposed Center’s focus sufficiently strong to assure progress toward meeting Center objectives?

Investigator(s)

Are the PD/PIs, collaborators, and other researchers well suited to the project? If Early Stage Investigators or New Investigators, or in the early stages of independent careers, do they have appropriate experience and training? If established, have they demonstrated an ongoing record of accomplishments that have advanced their field(s)? If the project is collaborative or multi-PD/PI, do the investigators have complementary and integrated expertise; are their leadership approach, governance and organizational structure appropriate for the project?

• How much experience with, and commitment to, fostering working relationships with diverse populations do the investigators possess?
• To what extent is there evidence of the inclusion of minority researchers in the RCMAR application ?
• How much sustained experience does the research team possess in the areas selected for the RCMAR's focus and in mentoring junior investigators in these areas?
• How strong is the evidence of sustained research in areas addressed by this FOA as they are related to diverse and older populations? ?
• How much experience and commitment to furthering RCMAR objectives through prior or planned professional activities does the team of investigators show in the following areas: (1) creating an infrastructure for increasing minority researcher mentoring, (2) successfully maintaining recruitment goals for minority participants in prior funded research, (3) conducting research addressing strategies for decreasing minority/non-minority health and/or access differentials in older populations?

Innovation

Does the application challenge and seek to shift current research or clinical practice paradigms by utilizing novel theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions? Are the concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions novel to one field of research or novel in a broad sense? Is a refinement, improvement, or new application of theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions proposed?

Approach

Are the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses well-reasoned and appropriate to accomplish the specific aims of the Center? Are potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success presented? If the project is in the early stages of development, will the strategy establish feasibility and will particularly risky aspects be managed?

If the Center involves clinical research, are the plans for 1) protection of human subjects from research risks, and 2) inclusion of minorities and members of both sexes/genders, as well as the inclusion of children, justified in terms of the scientific goals and research strategy proposed?

• To what extent do plans or prior evidence show willingness and ability to cooperate with the Coordinating Center in its RCMAR Resource" function through dissemination of information to general scientific and host community audiences?
• If appropriate, to what extent is there evidence of existing linkages, or a reasonable expectation of such linkages, with minority institutions and/or community organizations?

Administrative Core (AC) Criteria

• How evident is the scientific, leadership, and administrative ability of the RCMAR Director and his/her staff? How well is time-allocated to program management among senior staff?
• How well do the organization and processes proposed for internal communication and synthesis of Core activities advance RCMAR objectives?
• What is the quality of the initial pilot studies and of the mechanisms for review and administration of subsequent pilot studies? How well does it match the focus of the RCMAR program? How likely is subsequent independent funding?

Investigator Development Core (IDC) Criteria

• How well-developed and realistic are plans to advance pilot studies and pilot-funded investigators to successful award of independent investigator-initiated projects?
• How viable is the plan for continuing the mentoring of pilot investigators through a successful independent investigator award?
• How strong is the evidence that during years two through five of the RCMAR, there is a sufficient pool of researchers to submit excellent pilot study applications?
• What is the quality of the evidence that the pilot study solicitation and selection process will provide scientifically rigorous and potentially fundable projects?
• How likely is the mentoring strategy to produce and retain diverse professionals in aging research?

Community Liaison Core (CLC) Criteria

• What is the quality of the ongoing relationship, or of evidence for creating a strong relationship with diverse community groups?
• How well is the strategy for furthering research in recruiting and retaining minority participants in research prepared for dissesmination and/or disseminated to appropriate professional communities?
• To what extent is there evidence that the CLC is, or has the potential to be, a leader in the field conducting research on recruiting and retaining older diverse individuals for research?
• Is there strong evidence that the CLC has the potential for sharing its results with the scientific community?

Analysis Core (AnC) Criteria

• How extensive is the background of the investigators in the creation and/or use of culturally informed and valid measurement tools and/or is there evidence of extensive experience in working with large secondary data sets?
• How well-coordinated is this Core with the Investigator Development Core in the mentoring of pilot investigators and other institutionally based researchers in the use of culturally sensitive measurement, research methodology, and or large data sets?
• To what extent is there evidence of a willingness to work with the Coordinating Center in the dissemination of culturally sensitive measures, methods, and/or the use of large data sets?
• Is there strong evidence that the AnC is or has the potential to be a leader in the field conducting research on measurement and/or analysis related to older diverse individuals?
• To what extent is there evidence that the AnC has the potential for sharing its results with the scientific community?

Coordinating Center Core (CC) Criteria

• Is there strong evidence of the availability of sufficient scientific expertise and of the ability to work with scientists to serve as the RCMARs point-of-contact for a broad scientific community having specific information needs in: measurement, recruitment and retention of older minority subjects, and the mentoring of minority investigators?
• How much evidence is there of the ability to work with a diverse group of scientists in translating findings to both scientific and lay audiences?
• How extensive is the experience of the team, and how reasonable is it to expect further success in, providing diverse sites with logistic support in arranging annual meetings, preparing pre- and post-meeting materials, and the coordination of joint Center activities (e.g., preparation of presentations at professional meetings)?
• To what extent is there evidence that the CC will be able to foster or has fostered interaction between sites and between specific Cores for sharing developments and findings such as mentoring techniques, new research tools, recruitment and retention strategies that work/do not work, etc.?
• How strong is the evidence that the CC can coordinate and maintain on-time progress reporting through a database for the cumulative progress reports or other documents?

Environment

Will the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success? Are the institutional support, equipment and other physical resources available to the investigators adequate for the project proposed? Will the project benefit from unique features of the scientific environment, subject populations, or collaborative arrangements?

• To what extent is there evidence of commitment to diversity research by the host institution(s)
• Is there evidence that the host institution is sufficiently flexible to foster multi-disciplinary interaction between its Administrative units, the RCMAR, and organizations external to it?
• How much evidence is there of the host institution s(s ) fostering of, and commitment to, research on diverse populations and to minority researchers?

As applicable for the Center proposed, reviewers will evaluate the following additional items while determining scientific and technical merit, and in providing an overall impact/priority score, but will not give separate scores for these items.

Protections for Human Subjects

For research that involves human subjects but does not involve one of the six categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR Part 46, the committee will evaluate the justification for involvement of human subjects and the proposed protections from research risk relating to their participation according to the following five review criteria: 1) risk to subjects, 2) adequacy of protection against risks, 3) potential benefits to the subjects and others, 4) importance of the knowledge to be gained, and 5) data and safety monitoring for clinical trials.

For research that involves human subjects and meets the criteria for one or more of the six categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR Part 46, the committee will evaluate: 1) the justification for the exemption, 2) human subjects involvement and characteristics, and 3) sources of materials. For additional information on review of the Human Subjects section, please refer to the Human Subjects Protection and Inclusion Guidelines.

Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Children

When the proposed Center involves clinical research, the committee will evaluate the proposed plans for inclusion of minorities and members of both genders, as well as the inclusion of children. For additional information on review of the Inclusion section, please refer to the Human Subjects Protection and Inclusion Guidelines.

Vertebrate Animals

The committee will evaluate the involvement of live vertebrate animals as part of the scientific assessment according to the following five points: 1) proposed use of the animals, and species, strains, ages, sex, and numbers to be used; 2) justifications for the use of animals and for the appropriateness of the species and numbers proposed; 3) adequacy of veterinary care; 4) procedures for limiting discomfort, distress, pain and injury to that which is unavoidable in the conduct of scientifically sound research including the use of analgesic, anesthetic, and tranquilizing drugs and/or comfortable restraining devices; and 5) methods of euthanasia and reason for selection if not consistent with the AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia. For additional information on review of the Vertebrate Animals section, please refer to the Worksheet for Review of the Vertebrate Animal Section.

Biohazards

Reviewers will assess whether materials or procedures proposed are potentially hazardous to research personnel and/or the environment, and if needed, determine whether adequate protection is proposed.

Resubmissions

Not Applicable.

Renewals

For Renewals, the committee will consider the progress made in the last funding period.

Revisions

Not Applicable.

As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will consider each of the following items, but will not give scores for these items, and should not consider them in providing an overall impact/priority score.

Applications from Foreign Organizations

Not Applicable.

Select Agent Research

Reviewers will assess the information provided in this section of the application, including 1) the Select Agent(s) to be used in the proposed research, 2) the registration status of all entities where Select Agent(s) will be used, 3) the procedures that will be used to monitor possession use and transfer of Select Agent(s), and 4) plans for appropriate biosafety, biocontainment, and security of the Select Agent(s).

Resource Sharing Plans

Reviewers will comment on whether the following Resource Sharing Plans, or the rationale for not sharing the following types of resources, are reasonable: 1) Data Sharing Plan; 2) Sharing Model Organisms; and 3) Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS).

Budget and Period of Support

Reviewers will consider whether the budget and the requested period of support are fully justified and reasonable in relation to the proposed research.

Applications will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by (an) appropriate Scientific Review Group(s) convened by the National Institute on Aging , in accordance with NIH peer review policy and procedures, using the stated review criteria. Review assignments will be shown in the eRA Commons.

As part of the scientific peer review, all applications:

• May undergo a selection process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific and technical merit (generally the top half of applications under review), will be discussed and assigned an overall impact/priority score.
• Will receive a written critique.

Applications will be assigned to the appropriate NIH Institute or Center and will compete for available funds with all other recommended applications submitted in response to this FOA. Following initial peer review, recommended applications will receive a second level of review by the National Advisory Council on Aging. The following will be considered in making funding decisions:

• Scientific and technical merit of the proposed project as determined by scientific peer review.
• Availability of funds.
• Relevance of the proposed project to program priorities.
• Balance across the center program in the different races and ethnicities studied.

After the peer review of the application is completed, the PD/PI will be able to access his or her Summary Statement (written critique) via the eRA Commons.

Information regarding the disposition of applications is available in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

If the application is under consideration for funding, NIH will request "just-in-time" information from the applicant as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

A formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award (NoA) will be provided to the applicant organization for successful applications. The NoA signed by the grants management officer is the authorizing document and will be sent via email to the grantee’s business official.

Awardees must comply with any funding restrictions described in Section IV.5. Funding Restrictions. Selection of an application for award is not an authorization to begin performance. Any costs incurred before receipt of the NoA are at the recipient's risk. These costs may be reimbursed only to the extent considered allowable pre-award costs.

Any application awarded in response to this FOA will be subject to the DUNS, CCR Registration, and Transparency Act requirements as noted on the Award Conditions and Information for NIH Grants website.

All NIH grant and cooperative agreement awards include the NIH Grants Policy Statement as part of the NoA. For these terms of award, see the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart A: General and Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart B: Terms and Conditions for Specific Types of Grants, Grantees, and Activities. More information is provided at Award Conditions and Information for NIH Grants.

Not Applicable.

When multiple years are involved, awardees will be required to submit the Non-Competing Continuation Grant Progress Report (PHS 2590) annually and financial statements as required in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

A final progress report, invention statement, and the expenditure data portion of the Federal Financial Report are required for closeout of an award, as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Transparency Act), includes a requirement for awardees of Federal grants to report information about first-tier subawards and executive compensation under Federal assistance awards issued in FY2011 or later. All awardees of applicable NIH grants and cooperative agreements are required to report to the Federal Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) available at www.fsrs.gov on all subawards over $25,000. See the NIH Grants Policy Statement for additional information on this reporting requirement.

We encourage inquiries concerning this funding opportunity and welcome the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants.

GrantsInfo (Questions regarding application instructions and process, finding NIH grant resources)
Telephone 301-710-0267
TTY 301-451-5936
Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov

eRA Commons Help Desk(Questions regarding eRA Commons registration, tracking application status, post submission issues)
Phone: 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552 (Toll Free)
TTY: 301-451-5939
Email: commons@od.nih.gov

Dr. Sidney M. Stahl
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Telephone: 301-402-4156
Email: StahlS@mail.nih.gov

Ramesh Vemuri, Ph.D.
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Telephone: 301-402-7700
Vemuri@nia.nih.gov

Linda Whipp
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Telephone: 301-496-1472
Email:WhippL@mail.nih.gov

Recently issued trans-NIH policy notices may affect your application submission. A full list of policy notices published by NIH is provided in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Awards are made under the authorization of Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and under Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92.